In
the closely watched U.S. Senate race, Attorney General Ken
Salazar (D) defeated Pete Coors (R) by 1,081,188 to 980,668 (51.30%
to 46.53%). Colorado had several very competitive U.S. House races.
The 3rd CD, opened up by the retirement of Rep. Scott McInnis (R), changed
parties as State Rep. John Salazar
(D), brother of the A.G., defeated Greg Walcher (R), exec. dir. of
Colorado's Department of Natural Resources, who also worked for many years
as an aide to Sen. Bill Armstrong. Amendment
36, which would have, effective this election, changed the way Colorado
allocates its electoral votes so they are divided based on the popular
vote, was defeated by a magin of 65.22% to 34.78%.

Last day to register to vote
for the General Election: October 4, 2004.Early voting at the early
voters' polling place: October 18-29, 2004.

Results

+Bush/Cheney
(Rep.)

1,101,255

(51.71)

Kerry/Edwards
(Dem.)

1,001,732

(47.04)

Badnarik/Campagna
(Lib.)

7,664

(0.36)

Cobb/LaMarche
(Grn.)

1,591

(0.07)

Nader/Camejo
(CRP)

12,718

(0.60)

Peroutka/Baldwin
(ACP)

2,562

(0.12)

Amondson/Pletten
(COP)

378

(0.02)

Andress/Deasy
(Un.)

804

(0.04)

Brown/Hollis
(SP)

216

(0.01)

Dodge/Lydick
(Prohib.)

140

(0.01)

Harris/Trowe
(SWP)

241

(0.01)

Van
Auken/Lawrence (SEP)

329

(0.02)

Total........2,129,630

According to unofficial statistics
reported by county clerks and recorders 51,529 provisional ballots were
cast, of which 39,086 were counted and 12,443 rejected.

2004
OverviewDemocrats made a play for
Colorado, and although the brothers Salazar picked up the open U.S. Senate
and U.S. House seats, the Kerry-Edwards ticket fell short. Bush achieved
a plurality of 99,523 votes (4.67 percentage points).General
Election DetailsKerry/Allies
| Bush-Cheney
'04

Turnout
as a percentage of voting age population was 56.78%. (U.S. avg: 53.76%).

2000
OverviewBush won Colorado with a
plurality of 145,521 votes (8.36 percentage points) and carried 50 of the
state's 63 counties. In contrast to 1996, when Colorado experienced a dogfight
in the presidential race, the Gore camp did not target the state, making
for a quiet general election campaign. During the post-convention period
Colorado only merited one visit each from the running mates. Ralph
Nader made a couple of visits after the Greens convention in June (Sept.
8-10 and a final stop on Nov. 2), and his 5.25% proved to be one of his
better showings. Down-ticket there were various initiative campaigns,
and Colorado Democrats managed to wrest control of the State Senate from
the GOP, for their only legislative chamber pick-up in the country.General
Election Activity

2004 Democratic Precinct Caucuses
--Tuesday, April 13, 2004

On March 5, 2003 Gov. Bill Owens signed into law SB03-188
eliminating the state's presidential primary election. Difficult
state finances prompted the move; the bill also deducted $2.2 million from
the Department of State cash fund and transferred it to the state's general
fund. (Elections are covered in Title I of the Colorado
Revised Statutes).